Patricia R. Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro will face off in a race for a seat in Congress that will cease to exist after December. They both said on May 17, they will run in a special election for the 19th Congressional District once U.S. Rep Antonio Delgado resigns to become lieutenant governor. Ryan is a Democrat and from Gardiner. He announced his candidacy in a video posted to social media. Molinaro, a Republican from Red Hook, announced his candidacy in a telephone interview with the Freeman. The 19th Congressional District will no longer exist as currently configured on December 31. On Mon., May 16, Ryan announced his candidacy for the newly created 18th Congressional District, which now covers much of central and southern Ulster County, all of Orange County and all but the southeastern portion of Dutchess County. Molinaro announced the very same day that he will run for the newly created 19th Congressional District, a district in which he does not live and includes none of Dutchess County. The U.S. Constitution requires a member of Congress to live in the state, but not necessarily the district they represent. Ryan said he will run in a special election in August, but no special election has yet been called by Gov. Kathy Hochul; the timing of a special election is dependent on when Delgado resigns. In order for a special election to be held on August 23, the same day congressional and state senate primary contests will be held, Delgado must resign between May 25 and June 4. If he resigns outside that timeframe a special election would have to be held on a date separate from the August 23 primary election. If he fails to resign by June 30, no special election will be held and the seat will remain vacant. Read more in the Daily Freeman.